Chapter 27 · Kneel

The light punched through Elara's ribs before she could get a word out.

Mara stood in the beam like somebody had hung her there on purpose. The voice that came out of her wasn't hers. Silas. Same clipped city-hall voice. Like he was still at a press desk and not wearing a woman's face.

"Kneel."

Kane didn't kneel. He bled. His left hand stayed mashed to his side and the blood found the floor anyway, dark and fast.

Nora made a sound that wasn't a word. She took one step toward her mother and the core flashed white. Elara's teeth clicked together.

"I said kneel," Silas said through Mara's throat. "Or I start rewriting the last three days from the inside out."

Elara's knees didn't want to lock. The room hummed under her boots. That black transit token in her pocket went hot, like it had been sitting on a stove.

"Don't," she said. "Silas. Look at me. You don't get to wear her."

Mara's head tipped. Too smooth. Too practiced.

"I get to wear whoever remembers the grid," Silas said. "Mara remembered all thirteen. That's why she's useful. You're useful for a different reason.